The control of Iowa's state senate will determine whether Republican Governor Terry Branstad will be able to launch an assault on collective bargaining rights in the state ala Wisconsin. It will also determine whether Iowa will be able to maintain marriage equality. Prior to the election, Democrats held a slender 26 to 24 majority. Half of the 50 seats are up for this election. Follow beyond the squiggle to see a breakdown of the race...
Of the 50 seats in the Iowa Senate there are ...
- 11 Republicans not up for election
- 13 Democrats not up for election
- 4 Republicans running unopposed
- 1 Democrat running unopposed
- 3 Republican incumbents being challenged
- 8 Democratic incumbents being challenged
- 9 seats with no incumbent*
- 1 district pitting two incumbents against each other
(* - One of the districts will not hold an election until December due to the death of Republican incumbent Senator Pat Ward.)
Here is a list of races:
CHALLENGED DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENTS:
District 8 - Senator Mike Gronstal (D - Senate Majority Leader) vs. Al Ringgenberg (R)
District 16 - Senator Dick Dearden (D) vs. David Scott Edwards (R)
District 18 - Senator Janet Peterson (D) vs. Vicki Stogdill (R)
District 30 - Senator Jeff Danielson (D) vs. Matt Reisetter (R)
District 32 - Senator Brian Schoenjahn (D) vs. Elliot Henderson (R)
District 36 - Senator Steve Sodders (D) vs. Jane Jech (R)
District 44 - Senator Thomas Courtney (D) vs. Brad Bourn (R)
District 50 - Senator Pam Jochum (D) vs. William Johnson (R)
CHALLENGED REPUBLICAN INCUMBENTS:
District 24 - Senator Jerry Behn (R) vs. Shelley Stotts (D)
District 38 - Senator Tim Kapucian (R) vs. Shelley Parbs (D)
District 46 - Senator Shawn Hamerlinck (R) vs. Chris Brase (D)
INCUMBENT vs. INCUMBENT:
District 26 - Senator Mary Jo Wilhelm (D) vs. Senator Merlin Bartz (R)
DISTRICTS WITH NO INCUMBENT RUNNING:
District 4 - Bob Jennings (D) vs. Dennis Guth (R)
District 6 - Mary Bruner (D) vs. Mark Segebart (R)
District 14 - Dick Schrad (D) vs. Amy Sinclair (R)
District 28 - John Beard (D) vs. Michael Breitbach (R)
District 40 - Tim Tripp (D) vs. Ken Rozenboom (R)
District 42 - Rich Taylor (D) vs. Larry Kruse (R) vs. Michael Garmone (IND)
District 48 - Nate Willems (D) vs. Dan Zumbach (R)
District 49 - Rita Hart (D) vs. Andrew Naeve (R)
District 22* - Desmund Adams (D) vs. _______ (R)
(* - Due to the death of incumbent Republican Senator Pat Ward, the Republicans will need to nominate a new candidate and the election for this district will be held in December.)